Lucy Spraggan

Lucy Honour Ruby Spraggan (born 21 July 1991) is an English singer-songwriter. She auditioned for The X Factor in 2012, performing her own composition, "Last Night".[1] On 3 November 2012, it was announced she would be quitting her run on The X Factor due to illness, so she subsequently finished in ninth place, and second in her category. Following the show Spraggan was signed to Columbia Records.

Lucy Spraggan
Spraggan performing
Background information
Birth nameLucy Honour Ruby Spraggan
Born (1991-07-21) 21 July 1991
OriginBuxton, England
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2011–present
Labels
Websitelucyspraggan.com

Spraggan was the first contestant in the show's history to score a Top 40 single and album before the live shows even aired with her independently released album Top Room at the Zoo. Her debut major label album, Join the Club, was released on 7 October 2013, reaching number seven in the UK charts.[2] She has since released three more studio albums, and signed to Cooking Vinyl Records.[3]

Music career

2011–2012: Live and Unsigned, Open Mic UK and Top Room at the Zoo

In July 2011, Spraggan was announced as the runner up of the Urban, Pop & Acoustic Category of Live and Unsigned, placing third place overall in the competition.[4] Spraggan's prizes awarded by Live and Unsigned for her progress in the competition consisted of a festival slot at Osfest,[5] and a slot at Australia's 'Go Connect' Festival.[4] When the festival was later cancelled, Live and Unsigned provided Spraggan with a series of replacement prizes, including: a string of guest act spots at Live and Unsigned and Open Mic UK shows across the country,[6][7] a new website,[8] and a music video shoot for her single Last Night, which received over 455,000 views.[8][9]

On 20 October 2011 Spraggan independently released her album Top Room at the Zoo.[10] In an interview she said that the majority of her album's lyrics were inspired by a short-lived romance with an older woman of 27 that occurred when Spraggan visited America at the age of 18.[11]

Spraggan performed as a guest act at a large volume of Live and Unsigned and Open Mic UK shows across the country during this time,[6][7] on Open Mic UK, Spraggan said in an interview: "Open Mic UK is a great way to build your fan base to thousands of new fans whether you are a guest act or a competitor in the show."[6] As a result of performing at these shows, Spraggan was scouted by several festival organisers to perform at their festivals,[6] amongst which included London Summer Jam,[12] Osfest,[13] Strawberry Fields Festival[14] Whaley Bridge Water Weekend and Cockermouth Rock Festival.[15][16]

2012: The X Factor

On 13 July 2012, she released the single "Tea and Toast". Spraggan auditioned for the ninth series of The X Factor, which was shown on 25 August 2012, singing her own song "Last Night" from Top Room at the Zoo. She won herself a place at bootcamp after performing the song, which left the audience at the Manchester auditions chanting for more. Her second song, which was a rendition of "Halo" by Beyoncé, was shown on The Xtra Factor. Shortly after the audition was screened, the song climbed to Number 70 in the Official UK Singles Chart,[17] and reached Number 2 on iTunes. However, it was soon removed from iTunes by request of The X Factor producers.[18] On 29 August 2012, Greg James announced that "Last Night" was at number 5 on the Official Chart Update despite the song being removed from iTunes, her album Top Room at the Zoo was at number 7 on the Official Chart Update as well.[19][20] On 2 September 2012 "Last Night" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 11 and Top Room at the Zoo entered the UK Albums Chart at number 22.[21]

Spraggan sang "Moves like Jagger" by Maroon 5 at bootcamp but the performance was described as "awkward" and "messy". She returned to the stage with a mix-up of songs that she really liked and meant a lot to her. Tulisa then said that she wanted to hear one of her tracks so Spraggan decided to sing "Tea and Toast", stating that the song was about a real couple. After she performed the song she burst into tears when she received a standing ovation from the audience and the judging panel.[22][23]

She made it through to the live shows as one of the three female singers selected by mentor Tulisa. In week 4, Spraggan was ill so she automatically got through to week 5. On 3 November, she decided to leave the competition because she felt that it wouldn't be fair to get another free pass to the next round, as she was still too ill to compete.[24]

Performances on The X Factor
Episode Theme Song Result
Audition Free choice "Last Night" (original song) Advanced
Bootcamp 1 Group performance "Moves like Jagger" Advanced
Bootcamp 2 Solo performance "Tea and Toast" (original song) Advanced
Judges' houses No theme "I Will Always Love You" Advanced
Week 1 Heroes night "Mountains" (original song) Safe (5th)
Week 2 Love and heartbreak "Gold Digger" Safe (5th)
Week 3 Club classics "Titanium" (version with original lyrics) Safe (7th)
Week 4 Halloween N/A Withdrew (9th)

2012–2013: Join the Club

Lucy Spraggan announced her signing to Record Label Columbia Records in March 2013. Her debut studio album Join the Club was released on 7 October.

About the album Spraggan said "I wanted to put my own take on events that happen to everyone by telling these stories. I have been writing this album for as long as I can remember and I hope people will be able to relate."[25] The lead single "Lighthouse" was released 14 July. About the single Spraggan explains 'Whenever I'd run out of money or get on the wrong bus, I'd see a lighthouse and things would start to getting better'.[26] Spraggan confirmed the second single lifted from the album would be "Last Night (Beer Fear)" was released on 30 September.[27]

Spraggan announced a headline UK and Ireland tour in support of the album which started at Margate Winter Gardens on 21 October and concluded at The Academy in Dublin on 16 November.[28]

2014–2016: We Are, Home EP and I Hope You Don't Mind Me Writing

November 2014 Spraggan showcased new music she'd been working on since The X Factor. On 17 January via Facebook she announced the title of her second album entitled We Are, which was released on 4 May 2015, and the first single "Unsinkable" released on 12 March 2015. Following the album's release Spraggan embarked on "The Unsinkable Tour". In 2015, Spraggan wrote and sang the "catchy" lyrics for the TV advert for online fashion store Simplybeyou. Later in 2015 Spraggan was signed to CTRL Records. On 3 February 2016 Lucy Spraggan announced, via social media, that her new EP would be called Home and due to be released on 9 February. The EP contained 3 new songs called Home,Yes, This One's For You and Skylights. It also included a new version of Tea and Toast which explained the story behind the song. On 9 November 2016, Spraggan announced her fourth album I Hope You Don't Mind Me Writing, which was released on 27 January 2017. On 8 December 2016 the video for the first single from the album Modern Day Frankenstein became available to view online with the preorder for the album following 10 December 2016.

2017–present: Dear You Tour, summer festivals and new record label

Spraggan announced a headline European tour to promote her album I Hope You Don't Mind Me Writing, starting at The Waterfront, Norwich on 1 March and concluding at the Gruner Salon, Berlin on 28 March 2017. The tour consisted of 18 dates in total. Summer festival highlights for Spraggan included performances at Hope & Glory (Wonders of the Age Stage), Isle of Wight (Big Top Stage), Glastonbury (Acoustic) and Tramlines (Sheffield).

On 19 May 2017 Spraggan announced via her social media pages that she was going to embark on a 31 date UK tour throughout September and October of that year. The full list of dates and tickets are available on https://www.musicglue.com/lucy-spraggan/live/categories/tour-dates

Following a number of showcase performances at SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas in March 2018, Lucy signed to Cooking Vinyl Records & Publishing.[3] Soon after this, she was added to the roster on ATC Live[29] for UK & European live bookings and APA for Northern America.[30] Lucy is set to tour the US & Canada throughout September 2018, followed by a substantial UK tour and European dates through October and into November.[31] She is currently writing new material for a new album due out in Spring 2019 to be released through Cooking Vinyl and will be performing at festivals including Kendal Calling, Y Not and Belladrum over the Summer.

At the beginning of 2019, she toured with Melissa Etheridge for three weeks in Europe on Etheridge's "Yes I Am" 25th Anniversary Tour.

Personal life

Spraggan attended Buxton Community School and the University of Derby,[32] and currently resides in Stockport. She stated in her X Factor appearance, when she was asked about her job by judge Tulisa, she said "I am the person with a clipboard in the street that you try to avoid. I sell baby photos for 99p". Prior to her musical success on X-Factor she worked as a salesperson for a Sheffield-based budget, photography firm and worked mainly selling children's portraits in the Fargate area of Sheffield. When asked, "Do you enjoy it?", she replied "No, not very much." [33]

Spraggan came out as gay at 14 years old[34] and married Georgina Gordon on 18 June 2016.[35][36] The two separated on 12 November 2019 after three years and five months of marriage.[37]

Her mother, Anstey, is a freelance journalist.[38]

Discography

Albums
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[39]		 IRE
[40]		 SCO
[41]
Top Room at the Zoo
  • Released: 20 October 2011 (UK)
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: Digital download, CD
 227219
Join the Club
  • Released: 7 October 2013 (UK)
  • Label: Columbia Records
  • Formats: Digital download, CD, LP
 7146
We Are
  • Released: 4 May 2015 (UK)
  • Label: CTRL Records
  • Formats: Digital download, CD
 17——
I Hope You Don't Mind Me Writing
  • Released: 27 January 2017 (UK)
  • Label: CTRL Records
  • Formats: Digital download, CD, LP
 12—6
Today Was a Good Day
  • Released: 3 May 2019 (UK)
  • Label: Cooking Vinyl Records
  • Formats: Digital download, CD, LP
 12—3
Choices
  • Released: 16 October 2020 (UK)
  • Label: Cooking Vinyl Records
  • Formats: Digital download, CD, LP
 -—-
"—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released.

Extended plays
Title Details
Home
  • Released: 8 February 2016
  • Label: CTRL Records
  • Formats: Digital download, CD

Singles

As lead artist
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[39]		 IRE
[40]		 SCO
[42]
"Tea and Toast" 2012 50—— Join the Club
"Lighthouse" 2013 262114
"Last Night (Beer Fear)"[A] 111611
"Unsinkable" 2015 78—— We Are
"Dear You" 2016 ——— I Hope You Don't Mind Me Writing
"Modern Day Frankenstein" ———
"Drink 'Til We Go Home" 2017 ——60 Non-album single
"Stick the Kettle On"
(featuring Scouting for Girls)		 2018 ——— Today Was A Good Day
"Lucky Stars" 2019 ———
"All the Things She Said" 2020 ——— Non-album single
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.
Year Title Album
2014 "Give Me Sunshine"
(Santa Maradona F.C. featuring Lucy Spraggan)		 N/A

Other charted songs
Year Title Peak chart positions Album
UK
[39]		 IRE
[40]
2012 "Someone" 137— Top Room at the Zoo
and Join the Club
2013 "Butterflies" —61
"'91" —67
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.
  • A ^ Originally charted in 2012, after Spraggan's The X Factor audition, it peaked at number 2 on the chart update, but was subsequently removed from sale. It had, however, accumulated enough sales to debut at number 11 in the UK. The same was true in Ireland, where it charted at number 16. It was re-released in September 2013, by her new record label, Columbia and reached number 18. It was included first on debut album Top Room at the Zoo, and later on her major label debut Join the Club. Top Room at the Zoo reached #7 on the UK chart update before being removed from sale, as well.

Music videos
Year Title Director[43] Funded by[8]
2011 "Dreamer" (featuring J-Mac) Ollie Green & Daniel Entwistle Live and Unsigned
2012 "Last Night" Damien Reeves
2013 "Lighthouse" N/A Sony Music Entertainment
"Last Night (Beer Fear)" Damien Reeves
"Mountains" Michael Baldwin
"Tea And Toast" N/A
2015 "Unsinkable" Damien Reeves CTRL Records
2016 "Dear You" Damien Reeves & Lucy Spraggan
"Modern Day Frankenstein" Damien Reeves
2017 ""Drink 'Til We Go Home"" N/A N/A
2018 "Stick the Kettle On" N/A N/A
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References
  1. "X-clusive! Lucy Spraggan - the first interview!". Maximum Pop!. 27 August 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  2. Lane, Daniel. "Lucy Spraggan chats about new single Lighthouse". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  3. "Lucy Signs to Cooking Vinyl – Lucy Spraggan". Lucyspraggan.com. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  4. "Live and Unsigned winners, scores and results". Live and Unsigned. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  5. "Osfest Find Live and Unsigned Beauties". Osfest. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  6. "Lucy Spraggan Open Mic UK Guest Act Provides Unsigned Music Advice". Open Mic UK. Archived from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  7. "Lucy Spraggan's Twitter". Lucy Spraggan. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  8. "Advertising Standards Authority ASA Investigation of Live and Unsigned". Live and Unsigned. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  9. Lucy Spraggan Last Night (Beer Fear) Official Music Video HD. Melmo Films. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  10. "An Interview with Lucy Spraggan". LoveMusicNews. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  11. "X Factor finalist Lucy Spraggan: Most of my songs are about the older woman I fell for in America". Now Magazine. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  12. "Free studio time free amps and festival slots for Live and Unsigned acts that competed in Camden London Results". Live and Unsigned. Archived from the original on 2 December 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  13. "Osfest 2012 Review". LoveMusicNews. LoveMusicNews. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  14. "The Summer Festival Season Has Been Taken By Storm By Live and Unsigned Alumni". Live and Unsigned. Live and Unsigned. Archived from the original on 2 December 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  15. "Cockermouth - Bar Stage". Cockermouth Rock Festival. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  16. "Live and Unsigned Alumni Play Summer Festivals". Music Radar. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  17. "X Factor star Lucy Spraggan scores second biggest selling track this week so far". The Official Charts Company (OCC). 28 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  18. "'X Factor' Lucy Spraggan's song taken off iTunes due to 'rule change'". Digital Spy. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  19. Corner, Lewis (29 August 2012). "Little Mix, Rita Ora lead midweek chart". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  20. "Little Mix's Wings soaring towards Number 1". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  21. "X Factor's Lucy Spraggan bags Top 20 hit despite track being pulled". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  22. Sperling, Daniel (22 September 2012). "'X Factor': Tulisa requests Lucy Spraggan original song at Boot Camp". Digital Spy.
  23. The X Factor UK (23 September 2012). "Lucy Spraggan's Bootcamp performance - Tea And Toast - The X Factor UK 2012". YouTube. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  24. "Lucy Spraggan leaves 'The X Factor'". Digital Spy. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  25. Smith, Carl. "Lucy Spraggan Announces debut Album 'Join the club' and single 'last night'". Sugarscape.com. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  26. Lane, Daniel. "Lucy Spraggan chats about new single lighthouse". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  27. Mensah, Jenny. "Lucy Spraggan Announces Album Title Join The Club". Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  28. Corner, Lewis. "Lucy Spraggan announces debut album 'Join The club'". Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  29. "ATC Live - Lucy Spraggan". ATC Live. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  30. "LUCY SPRAGGAN". Touring.apa-agency.com. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  31. "Tour Dates – Lucy Spraggan". Lucyspraggan.com. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  32. "X Factor hopeful Lucy Spraggan too 'niche' for Tulisa at Judges Houses?". X-Factor UK. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  33. The X Factor UK (25 August 2012), Lucy Spraggan's audition - Last Night - The X Factor UK 2012, retrieved 13 May 2019
  34. Methven, Nicola (26 August 2012). "X Factor's Lucy: Mum is thrilled that I'm gay - she thinks it makes her cooler". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  35. "X Factor's Lucy Spraggan proposes to girlfriend Georgina on day her single comes out", Mirror Online, 13 April 2015
  36. "The X Factor's Lucy Spraggan opens up about her near-death experience". The Metro. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  37. Newman, Vicki (12 November 2019). "Lucy Spraggan and Georgina Gordon's love story as they split after six years". mirror. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  38. Anstey Spraggan (22 May 2010). "How to survive a stepfamily". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  39. Peak positions in the United Kingdom:
  40. Hung, Steffen. "Discography Lucy Spraggan". Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  41. Peak positions for albums in Scotland:
  42. Peak positions for singles in Scotland:
  43. "Lucy Spraggan Last Night Music Video 2012". Melmo Films. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
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